Can You Use Charcoal in a Fire Pit?
April 4, 20226 min readWalden Backyards
Can You Use Charcoal in a Fire Pit?
Yes, charcoal is absolutely suitable to use in a fire pit. The type of charcoal you use or the method in which it is used will depend on whether you are using it for a standard campfire or even for campfire cooking.
Is it Better to Use Charcoal Than Firewood in a Firepit?
Technically, charcoal is wood that has been condensed and burned in an oxygen-free environment. However, there are different ways that charcoal can be used along with firewood. Firewood is typically used to help create a firebase, especially if you are building a campfire. Charcoal can be placed on top of firewood, or even in a firepit designed to burn charcoal efficiently.
Lump Charcoal or Briquettes: Which Should You Use?
There are two main types of charcoal you will find at the store, and they do not behave the same way in a fire pit. Briquettes are made from compressed sawdust and other natural materials, which makes them uniform in size, inexpensive, and predictable, a good match for the long, steady cooks like a slow-roasted stew. Lump charcoal is made from pieces of pure, untreated hardwood. It lights faster, burns hotter, and leaves less ash behind, which makes it the one to reach for when you are searing steaks and burgers or you want the fire up to temperature quickly. Lump charcoal usually costs more than briquettes, so plenty of people keep both on hand and pick based on what they are cooking that night.
What are the Advantages of Using Charcoal?
Using a firepit to burn charcoal, such as a Legacy firepit from Walden Backyards, provides numerous advantages, such as:
- Cooking benefits: Burning charcoal in the right firepit makes for an optimal cooking environment, whether grilling steaks and burgers or slow-roasting a stew.
- Source of heat: You can also use charcoal as a heat source, especially when building slow-burning fires.
- Long-lasting: Using charcoal can provide long-lasting fires, which work well for campfire cooking.
- Easily accessible: Lighting a fire with charcoal is simple and only requires a few seconds.
- Less cleanup: Using charcoal will produce fewer ashes even after your fire is completely out, requiring less cleanup.
How to Light Charcoal Without Tainting Your Food
Charcoal needs something to get it going. If you reach for lighter fluid, use it sparingly, too much causes a flare-up that can damage the fire pit, and the fluid leaves a chemical taste in whatever you cook over those coals afterward. The better option, especially when food is going on the grate, is an all-natural fire starter such as Walden Sure-Fire™ Starters. Set one in the middle of the charcoal, light it, and let the coals catch on their own. Once the bed is ashed over and glowing, a Stoker Poker lets you feed air straight into the coals without leaning over the heat.
Offset Your Coals to Create Indirect Heat
Charcoal gives you a consistent, steady heat source, and directly above the coals that heat is intense. Instead of spreading charcoal evenly across the bottom of the pit, push the bed to one side so you end up with a hot zone and a cooler zone. A Universal Ember Catcher makes this simple: it holds a bed of charcoal on one side of your raised fire pit grate so you can sear over the coals and then slide food to the other side of the grilling grate to cook it through without burning it.
When Would You Avoid Using Charcoal
Although charcoal is considered an excellent fuel source for campfire cooking and grilling, it is not always the best choice for every scenario. You should avoid using charcoal in the following situations:
- In a fireplace or another contained area that is not specifically designed for charcoal use
- Indoors
- When you intend to keep a fire burning all night unattended
- On grass or in an open firepit that is not suitable for charcoal
Safety Tips When Using Charcoal
When you use charcoal in a fire pit for campfire cooking or to keep warm, there are a few safety tips to keep in mind, such as:
- Use outdoor/fireproof gloves when handling charcoal, kindling, or fuel when lighting a fire. Even if you are just adjusting the fire or adding additional charcoal, it is best to wear proper gloves for maximum protection.
- Keep a fire extinguisher or fire dissolver near you, even when outdoors and in the middle of nowhere. Fires spread significantly faster outdoors and when the fire is exposed to oxygen and dry brush.
- Use blocks or fire bricks designed for building fire pits or protecting firepit areas when necessary. These are useful when you do not have a Legacy firepit and are in need of building a fire outdoors.
- Set the fire pit on a level surface, well away from anything flammable, and never walk away from a lit fire. Charcoal holds heat for hours after the flames are gone, so let the coals cool completely before you handle or dispose of them.
How to Clean Your Firepit After Using Charcoal
After you are done cooking with charcoal using your firepit, you can clean the fire pit using the following steps:
- Scoop and remove all of the remaining ash that has piled up after you are done cooking. Note: Allow the ashes to cool completely before attempting to clean your firepit or grill.
- Dispose of the ash in a nearby trash receptacle.
- Sweep the surroundings to eliminate remaining ash and wipe the exterior of the fire pit to ensure all ash has been properly removed.
- While the steel is still warm but no longer hot, wipe a light coat of vegetable oil over the grate and fire ring. Warm steel is more porous, so the oil soaks in, that seasoning keeps rust from taking hold and extends the life of the steel.
Using a Professional Solution For Campfire Cooking
If you want to ensure the best possible charcoal cooking and fire experience the next time you are camping or spending time outdoors, consider a professional BBQ grate, such as the Walden Backywards BBQ grate. Along with fire pokers and stokers, you can't go wrong with a BBQ grate designed for the outdoors from Walden Backyards.
From grilling fresh fish to letting your campfire soup cook from dawn until dusk, using charcoal can help with creating just the right type of fire you need. With the right Legacy firepit, a stoker poker, and charcoal, you can enjoy the great outdoors knowing that you are fully prepared at all times.
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